Act 12

Father Eric starred at Brian with confusing eyes, it could not be true? Had the word Brian just said, spoken the truth? Marriage to his sisters son? When William was already married and loved another?

- On Thursday, my lord? The time is very short.

- EJ Dimera will have it so; and I am nothing slow to slack his haste.

- You say you do not know the young lord Williams mind: uneven seems the course, I like it not.

He couldn't let it happened, it would break William and with that his sister to. But what could he do, say to stand up against the Dimeras whish?

- Immoderately he weeps for Nicks death, and therefore I have little talk of love; but I will have William for my husband, love aside.

Eric wanted to say something, to talk down towards this arrogant man, but he couldn't find words to describe his hatred or pain, and before he could find them at all, William opened the church's door and entered.

- Look, sir, here comes the young lord to my church.

He saw Brian turn hungry eyes towards Williams broken form, and his heart called out to his sisters child in pain.

- Happily met, my lord and my husband!

- That may be when I may be a husband.

- That will be on Thursday next, my love.

- What must be shall be.

Eric had never thought he would hear William talk with such void of life in his voice, but either Brian was blind or thought that William only felt such pain for the loose of his cousin.

- My lord, let William grieve his sorrow alone.

He just needed this man out of his church, so that he could talk to William, give him some comfort, something to hold him down on this earth.

- God shield I should disturb your grief. William, on Thursday early will I rouse you: till then, adieu; and keep this holy kiss.

And with those words, he leaned over William and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, but if the look in William face spoke truth he looked like he wanted to hit him. Then Brian left and William turned his pain filled eyes towards Eric.

- O shut the doors! And when thou hast done so, come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help!

- Ah William, I already know thy grief; it strains me past the compass of my wits: I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, on Thursday next be married to that lord.

- Tell me not, Eric, that thou heard of this, unless thou tell me how I may prevent it: if, in thy wisdom, canst give no help, with this knife I'll prevent it myself. God joined my heart and Sonny's, by our hands. If you can't help me, I long to die.

He saw the determination, and the gleaming steal of the knife in his dear Williams hand, and knew that William spoke the truth. He was here as a last desperate hope for help and Eric could not turn his back from him. Even though he knew how dangerous this was and Sami would have him put down for even suggestion this to William, he had no other choice.

- Hold, sisters child of mine, I do spy a kind of hope, which is a desperate solution. If rather than to marry lord Brian, wilt slain yourself, then is it likely thou wilt undertake, a thing like death to chide away this shame, and if thou darest, I'll give the remedy.

- O, bid me death, rather than to marry Brian, and I will do it without fear or doubt, to live an unstained husband to my sweet love.

- Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent to marry Brian; Wednesday is tomorrow, and make sure that thou lie alone; take thou this vial, being in thy bed, and when trough all thy vein it shall run a cold and drowsy slumber, for no pulse, no warmth, no breath shall testify thou still live, the roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade, like death. Thou shalt continue like that two and forty hours, and then awake as from a pleasant sleep. And when the lord Brian in the morning comes, to rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead: then, as the manner of our country is, thou shall be bore to the same ancient vault were all the kindred Dimeras lie. In the mean time, shall Sonny by my letter know our plan, and hither shall he come: and he and I will watch thy waking and that very night shall Sonny and thou bee hence from Salem.

And then he had an armful of William hugging him with laughter in his mouth. Eric held him as tight as he could, his dearest William, he could never let go.

- Give me, give me!

But he had to let go, and he turned away from Williams beating and living heart and went to the looked cabin where he kept his secret vials, that time and time saved the lives of the people in Salem. He found the vial he had spoke of and grabbed it with fearful eyes.

- Be strong and prosperous in this resolve; I will send a friend of dear Sonny with speed to where he is hiding his shame.

- Love give me strength! Farewell my dear uncle.

Act 12

EJ watched over the servants in his house that was busy with writing down everything that was needed for the wedding that Nicole had taken to her heart to plan. He was pleasantly surprised that Marlena was helping out his wife, he had been sure that she would fight him on this, since she always seemed to be doing that, but she just like him saw the perfect match between his son and Brian.

- So many guests invite as here are writ.

He hadn't expected an answer, the women too busy to plan and he sighed to himself, were was his cursed son? If he had not got his stupid ideas out of his head, then EJ would look him up until his wedding day and force him there. And appearing as if EJs wrath itself had summoned him, William appeared at the door, looking calm, collected and not the sniveling yelp he had acted as this morning.

- How now my son! Where have you been hiding?

- I have learned me to repent the sin of disobedient to you and your behest. And I beg your pardon; pardon I beseech you! Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.

EJ finally felt he could smile at his son again, there was the son he loved and took care of, the obedient one who would listen to his father's command. He nodded his forgiveness and approval to William, he wasn't a man with many words and William had understood what he meant.

- Marlena, will you go with me into my closet, to help me sort such needful ornaments as you think fit to furnish me for my wedding?

EJ watched with proud in his eyes as his son climbed the stair and Marlena followed, he was ready to be married already.

- Wife, send words to Brian that he shall have his husband, by tomorrow I demand.